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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-02-13 Daily Xml
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HOUSING POLICY

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:08): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Housing a question on housing policy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Members will be aware that the government and the minister last year made major changes to governance arrangements in relation to housing policy in South Australia. Information from senior levels within the housing portfolio have indicated that there are now very significant concerns about the government's policies and actions in this area. One of the many issues raised with me relates to the minister's and the department's handling of a major fraud case. The information provided to me indicates as follows:

1. There has been a case of major fraud in relation to Aboriginal housing within the portfolio.

2. Internal Audit conducted an investigation in relation to this particular fraud case.

3. Police were called in.

4. Some officers have now been moved out of their positions of responsibility.

Sources within the housing portfolio have expressed concerns about the way this particular case has been handled, both at the time and subsequently.

A search of various annual reports indicates that there is no reference in the Auditor-General's annual report for 2006-07 in relation to this issue. There is no reference in the 2006-07 Aboriginal Housing Authority annual report or the Community Housing Authority annual report. However, there is a reference to a fraud case in the South Australian Housing Trust 2006-07 annual report (a brief one on page 81), which states that there was one instance of potential employee-related fraud reported during the 2006-07 year, that the matter had been referred to SA Police and that the investigation into this case was yet to be finalised.

It is clear that we are now some eight months into the next financial year and after the end of that particular financial year. My questions are:

1. Will the minister provide details of this case of fraud and, in particular, can he confirm the cost or revenue lost in relation to this case of fraud, the number of officers who were involved in this case of fraud and what action has been taken in relation to those officers?

2. When was the minister first advised of this case of fraud, and what actions, as the minister, did he take in relation to this issue?

3. When was the Auditor-General's office advised in relation to this issue, and why is there no reference in the Auditor-General's annual report for 2006-07 to this case?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:11): I thank the honourable member for his question in relation to housing policy. I undertake to refer his questions to the Minister for Housing in the other place and bring back a response.

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